Gills are duty-bound to train on Christmas Day says boss Justin Edinburgh.

His players will be in for a session ahead of their Boxing Day trip to Swindon Town.

Edinburgh consulted some of his players before making his decision to train on Christmas Day and feels he has been as fair as he can.

He said: “Friday is a training day but I am fully aware that players have children.

"I spoke to the majority of those and we have come to agreement on a time that suits as many people as possible because I know it is a special time.

“I have children, they are older now, but I know how important it is to have those memories which you cherish but this is work and we know as footballers that this is our busy period. We have to accept it and they have, they understand, it is our duty to make sure we are prepared right.

“Being a footballer is a fantastic career and a privileged position to be in. Players don’t get a lot of sympathy but they have to sacrifice a lot and it is their families who have to go along with it. We try and work it as fairly as we can. I am sure they will see their children over Christmas.”

And the Gills boss joked: “My two were up at the crack of dawn so by 8am I was ready to leave the house anyway!”